How do you shave years off your learning curve? Find a mentor.
As we head into the upcoming fall season for many sports, I wanted to reinforce the importance for coaches to recognize the importance of lifelong learning.
Mentorship has always been something that I have believed in since I started coaching, initially as the mentee seeking the mentor, then as the years evolved it was I that was asked to provide insight to fellow or younger coaches as the mentor.
Last spring, I wrote about the importance of mentoring in “Coaching Skills in Sport and Skills in Life” that thinking back I should have titled the post “Ode to Glenn Zwick” as it was a tribute to the coach who acted as my mentor for many years who had probably forgotten more about hockey and softball than I will ever know.
Since that point I have had the opportunity to interact with some of the worlds top experts in sport across the globe while hosting our online events hosted thru our digital arm “For the Love of the Game” and one of the questions that I ask all guests is what coaches can do to shave 5 years off their learning curves.
To which many of the top experts I talked to shared what I truly believe in as well …
“ Find a Mentor.”
One of which who shared that with me was John Kessel, Director of Sport Development for USA Volleyball, who has been coaching now for over 5 decades and has worked with thousands of players and coaches.
Had it not for Glenn’s mentorship when I first started coaching softball and hockey and then evolving into other sports, I can say I would have made many more mistakes (even though still had a fair share) and I also would not have recognized the importance of lifelong learning.
When I first graduated from my many years of university and college that last thing that I wanted to do was EVER read a book, particularly a textbook, or sit in on a clinic, course, conference or what have you.
Then I came across this quote by Clare Drake years after I graduated…..
Clare (Canada’s John Wooden) was infamous for speaking at conferences well after they retired and after they did so would go sit with the attendees and take pages of notes.
When prompted why they did so their answers would be … because I may learn something.
Great coaches recognize the importance of lifelong learning.
Having coached now for over 25 years, I can honestly say any time I have the opportunity to either facilitate a clinic or course, deliver a keynote or be one of the attendees I jump at the opportunity.
Why?
Because now I can hardly wait to learn more, add to my toolbox so I can help others do the same.
Every time I run a clinic or workshop it is not only an opportunity for me to present the course materials but to have the opportunity to share insight and also learn from all those in the room.
I also have had the true privilege to mentor the next generation of leaders from my Alma Mater, UBC Kinesiology, as a Mentor but also for various co-op students that have worked with us over the years who have been instrumental in our growth as an organization.
A year ago I highlighted many of those other co-op students who contributed in prior post à bientôt which I shared with the two students as they finished their summer co-op term last week and today our 16th co-op student started.
I am not a fan of saying goodbye, rather the French saying I learned long ago (at one point I was pretty good in French but as they say, if you don’t use it, you lose it) as I have had the opportunity to connect with many of our former co-op students over the years.
One reached out to me a few weeks back and said “let’s go for a beer” which was pretty cool and he shared all the different projects was working on and how happy he was to see our growth since he did the second pass of our PARADIGM Sports Website now 2 years back (hard to believe how fast time has flown).
I have also had students provide testimonials, even recommendations for co-op supervisor awards and the biggest honour I received to date was when I was nominated for an alumni builder award by my Alma Mater, UBC School of Kinesiology, for mentoring, participating in expert panels and career fair.
I truly value mentoring and now jump at the opportunity whenever I get a chance to do so, as without someone to mentor you, how are you going to become better as a coach to help your players do the same?
In the last couple of weeks, I was asked to present at the PCAHA (Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association) Coach Coordinator meetings regarding the changes that BC Hockey has made to the practice evaluation process for competitive coaches.
Our goal is to have every coach that attends a clinic complete their certification for all clinic requirements in one season, and the practice evaluation is the opportunity of coach coordinators, technical or athletic directors are various minor hockey associations to provide insight during a practice evaluation.
The whole intent of the practice evaluations is for coaches to be mentored from tenured coaches and receive feedback on what they are doing well as well as what areas they could work on.
So as John Kessel (Kess) shared when I talked to him this summer, you coach these kids, who coaches you?
Another reason why you want to seek out a mentor is so you have someone to reach out to when you run into situations or issues unsure how to deal with to get advice, many times early on in my youth coaching days I made phones calls to or picked Glenn’s brain on the bench when girls were warming up about various challenges I was having.
In many instances he would merely state ”I really wish the adults would recognize it should be just about the kids and not focus on the results (wins, banners), at the end of the day we should help the kids become great people”
Fast Forward many years after he passed away, I now have been able to share many words of wisdom with coaches across Canada and like all of those that shared with me #1 tip I would share for you is to find a mentor.
Reach out to your coach coordinator for recommendations or go to an older teams practice to see how they run it, ask the coach if has time to share some words of wisdom over a coffee and you would be amazed how many are more than happy to do so.
Why?
Because for the most part (except the vocal minority that the tournaments and banners are the drivers), we are all in it for one reason, the Kids.
If we can help a younger coach hone his or her craft, it is our way of paying it forward so they can help their players do the same.
I also would recommend that you reach out to coaches in other sports, not just the one you are coaching for insight as never know what tips you will get.
Lastly, remember that whatever clinic you took for your coaching level is just the start of your journey, continue to read, attend conferences (our online event is a great way to learn from global experts 8-)), listen to podcasts, read books etc. so you can become the best coach you can be.
Why should you do so?
Because our purpose is not to make a living.
In lieu, our calling or rai·son d’ê·tre (reason for being) is to make a difference by developing youth into adults.
Please ensure that your legacy is a positive one and you are not a kid’s last coach.
Per Kess, I would be remiss in not sharing out his touching acceptance speech when he was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame where he thanks many of past and current mentors as well as his challenge to all coaches to “Never Be a Child’s Last Coach”
We concur.
(In our chat he and I had a good laugh how much our philosophies were similar as I have shared “Don’t be a Kid’s Last Coach for years)
Let’s all work together to bring the game back to the kids … where it belongs.
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